Problem set 6a (Phys 3703, Department of Physics AAU)

On surface and volume current densities

1. A spherical object of radius R has a volume charge distribution of 𝜌 = 𝜌0 𝑟 for 𝑟 < 𝑅 and a surface
𝑑𝜙
charge distribution of 𝜎 = 𝜎0 cos 𝜙. If the object rotates with angular velocity 𝜔
⃗ = 𝑑𝑡 𝑧̂ , find the
volume current density 𝐽 and surface current density 𝐾 ⃗.

𝑧
2. The B-field in cylindrical coordinates is given by 5𝜇0 𝜌 sin 𝜙 𝑧̂ .
a. Determine the current density 𝐽 in terms of cylindrical
coordinates. 𝑧
b. Determine the current 𝐼 enclosed by a rectangular loop of
side 𝜌 and length 𝑧 at an angle 𝜙 with respect to the x axis as 𝑦
shown in the diagram. 𝜙 𝜌
𝑥
On Lorentz force
3. A charge q = 3e has velocity of 𝑣 = (10𝑥̂ + 20𝑦̂ − 30𝑧̂ ) × 106 m/s. Find the force on the charge
by the fields 𝐸⃗ = (18𝑥̂ + 5𝑦̂ + 10𝑧̂ ) 𝑀V/m and 𝐵
⃗ = (40𝑥̂ + 10𝑦̂ + 30𝑧̂ ) Tesla.

On the B-field
4. Find the magnetic field 𝑑𝐵 ⃗ at the origin due to the current element 𝐼𝑑𝑙 = 3𝜋(𝑥̂ + 2𝑦̂ + 3𝑧̂ ) Am
at the point (3, 4, 5) in free space.

5. Parallel, infinite current planes at 𝑧 = 0 and 𝑧 = 4 have 𝑧

⃗ 𝑏𝑜𝑡 = −(10𝐴/𝑚)𝑥̂ and 𝑩 =? 𝑲𝒕𝒐𝒑
surface current densities 𝐾
⃗ 𝑡𝑜𝑝 = +(10𝐴/𝑚)𝑥̂, respectively.
𝐾
a. Using the integral form of Ampere’s law 𝒛
⃗ ⋅ 𝑑𝑙 = 𝜇0 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙 ), determine the B-field in the
(∮ 𝐵 =𝟒 𝑩 =?
regions (i) 𝑧 > 4, (ii) 0 < 𝑧 < 4 and (iii) 𝑧 < 0.
b. Find the magnetic force per unit area one plane 𝒛 𝑦
exerts on the other. =𝟎 𝑲𝒃𝒐𝒕
𝑥 𝑩 =?

⃗ produced at the center of

6. Using your knowledge of physics so far, determine the magnetic field 𝐵
the Hydrogen atom by electron? You may need the following physical constants:
permeability of free space: 𝜇0 = 4𝜋 × 10−7 𝑁/𝐴2
charge on electron: 𝑒 = 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶
mass of electron: 𝑚 = 9.1 × 10−31 𝑘𝑔
radius of Hydrogen atom 𝑅 = 5.1 × 10−11 𝑚.
On the magnetic vector potential and magnetic energy
7. Determine the magnetic vector potential 𝐴 and the magnetostatic energy 𝑈𝐵 given the free
current density 𝐽 = 𝑟𝑒 −𝑟 𝜃̂.
⃗ = cos 𝜙 𝜌̂. What is the magnetic flux through a surface
8. a) The magnetic field in a medium is 𝐵 𝜌
𝜋 𝜋
defined by − 4 ≤ 𝜙 ≤ 4 , 0 ≤ 𝑧 ≤ 2.

b) The vector potential 𝐴 = (2𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧)𝑥̂ + (𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑥𝑧 3 )𝑦̂ − (6𝑥𝑦𝑧 − 2𝑥 3 𝑦 3 )𝑧̂ is established
⃗ at the point (1,1,0).
in free space by some current configuration. Find the magnetic field 𝐵

⃗ = 𝑟 sin 𝜙 𝑟̂ + 2.5𝑟 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜙 𝜙̂ exists in a spherical, linear medium whose 𝜇𝑟 = 3.0.
9. A field 𝐻
Find
a. the magnetic susceptibility of the medium
b. the magnetization
c. the bound current densities 𝐽𝑏 and 𝐾 ⃗𝑏

On Magnetization
10. A spherical object of radius R carries uniform surface charge
distributions both inside (𝜌) and on the surface (σ). It spins at
angular velocity ω as shown. Find
a. the magnetic moment, 𝑚 ⃗⃗
b. the magnetization
Additional Problems
11. Find the magnetic field at point P for the steady current configurations shown below.

12. A straight wire of length 𝑙 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 carries a current 𝐼. Find the magnetic vector potential at the
point P.
y
P
𝑥1 𝑥2
x
I

13. Given a current sheet (𝑥𝑦 plane) with surface current density ⃗𝑲
⃗⃗ = 𝐾𝒊̂, find its vector potential
above and below the plane.

14. A circular loop of wire centered at the origin of the 𝑥𝑦 plane carries a counterclockwise current 𝐼
as viewed from the positive 𝑧 axis.
a. What is the magnetic dipole moment 𝒎?
b. Find the magnetic field at distant places in terms of 𝒎.

15. A circular disk of radius R has a uniform surface charge density 𝜎. If the disk rotates at constant
angular velocity 𝝎, find its magnetic dipole moment.

16. Suppose the field inside a large material is 𝑩0 , and the corresponding H-field is given in terms of
the magnetization by 𝜇0 𝑯 = 𝑩0 − 𝜇0 𝑴. A long needle-shaped cavity running parallel to 𝑴 is cut
out of the material. Find the 𝑩 field at the center of the cavity in terms of 𝑩0 and 𝑯.
17. Suppose the field inside a large material is B0 , and the corresponding H-field is given in terms of
the magnetization by 𝜇0 H = B0 − 𝜇0 M. A coin-shaped cavity perpendicular to M is cut out of the
material. Find the B field at the center of the cavity in terms of B0 and H.

18. A circular disk of radius R has a current in the counterclockwise sense given by 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑟. Find its magnetic
dipole moment.
19. A very long solenoid of radius 𝑎 has 𝑛 turns per unit length. The solenoid is surrounded by a
conducting ring of resistance 𝑅 as shown in the figure. If the current in the solenoid decreases at a
constant rate 𝑑𝐼/𝑑𝑡 = 𝑘, find the induced current in the loop and indicate its direction on the
figure.
R

I a

20. Find the mutual inductance of the solenoid and the ring in question 9 above.

21. A thin, infinitely long straight wire is laid in the 𝑧-direction. The wire carries a steady current 𝐼.
a. Find the vector potential at a distance 𝑟 from the wire using the standard form,
𝜇0 𝐼 𝑑𝒍′
𝑨(𝒓) = ∫
4𝜋 𝑙 |𝒓 − 𝒓′ |
b. From the result in (a), obtain the B-field at a distance 𝑟 from the wire,
c. Determine the force per unit length exerted on a second, infinitely long thin straight wire
placed at a distance 𝑟 from and parallel to the first. Assume the second wire carries the same
current 𝐼 in the opposite direction.

22. A thin rod of length 𝑙 and uniform linear charge density 𝜆 is rotating
about a perpendicular axis through its center as shown below. Its 𝜔
angular speed is 𝜔. 𝜆
a. What is the magnetic dipole moment m?
−𝑙/2 +𝑙/2
b. Find the B-field at distant places in terms of m.

23. Consider an infinitely long straight wire of radius R, which carries a current I.
a. What is the magnetic field 𝐵 ⃗ (𝑟) at a distance r from the center of the wire (r > R)?
b. Find the vector potential 𝐴(𝑟) at a distance r from the center of the wire (r > R).
c. Show that your solution in part b) is correct by verifying that ⃗∇ ∙ 𝐴 = 0.
d. Show that your solution in part b) is correct by verifying that ∇⃗ ×𝐴=𝐵 ⃗ .

Express all your answers in terms of R, I, and r.

24. Show that the magnitude of the Poynting vector at the surface of a long conducting cylinder of
radius R and length L and carrying current I when its ends are kept at a potential difference of V is
𝑉𝐼
𝑆=
2𝜋𝑅𝐿
25. Show that the energy density of an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the square of the
amplitude of the electric (or magnetic) field.